FULL OF IT
Last night I was doing that thing I do oh so often, you know, thinking, I asked myself, "What do you have to do, and what does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?" I thought deeply about the questions and of course the "Repent of your sins! Fire and brimstone!" thoughts pressed in my mind. I knew this was not the right answer to my specific questions, so I crushed those thoughts and simply said to myself, "Asked the Lord for forgiveness and ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit." Funny how more than often the simple answers are the right course of action. I continued to ponder - once filled with the Holy Spirit I will feel conviction when I have done something wrong because the Holy Spirit within me will grieve. Hmmm… how do I understand and recognize conviction from plain guilt? Are they the same?
Once on the “right” path, the proper question is not how much of the Spirit is in us, but rather how much of me is accepting of the Spirit. In scripture, Paul said that the Holy Spirit is sealed within us at the moment of belief (Ephesians 1:13-14), but in Ephesians 4:23 he said we’re to put off our old selves and be made new in the attitude of our minds. I would surmise this means we no longer run our life by ourselves but we trust and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to act in ways that are pleasing to the Father.
You see I’m a listener, this is how I learn. So when I listen to His voice and His guidance my true conscience, the Lord's voice, answers my questions, solve my concerns and squelches all quarrels. Reading Galatians 5:22-23 we hear the list of the behaviors the Spirit guides us towards. As I continue to learn to follow His Voice, the Holy Spirit empowers me to use the special gifts He grants to us all.
All too often we men get caught up in the wrong direction as a result of talking with unhealthy friends and associates; we then allow ourselves to be tempted to ignore the Holy Spirit’s guidance. When we do this it grieves the Father as it does any parent. When we listen to voices that tempt us to move in the direction of wrong or worse, evil, we seal off the Spirit from saving us.
The great fact is this - Ignoring the Holy Spirit means following Satan. And afterward, when we reflect on our behavior, we feel guilty.
You see my thinking has concluded that “Conviction” comes from the Holy Spirit, who wants us to be reconciled with our Father through His Son Jesus Christ. Guilt, guilt comes from satan who wants us to be estranged from our Father.
Normally a man experiencing conviction will be drawn by the Holy Spirit towards the Lord to receive His forgiveness through the sacrament of Reconciliation like Peter did after denying Him. A person feeling guilt will hide from Him in shame like Adam did in the Garden. So the difference between conviction and guilt can be seen in the direction we’re facing. If we’re looking towards the cross, it’s conviction. If we’re running away and hiding, it’s guilt. Period! End of discussion.
Peter confessed and was restored. Adam blamed God and bore the earthly consequences of his sin. As believers, we have the authority to reject satan’s attempts to make us feel guilty and confess our sin to our Lord and Savior. When we do this He will take away our guilt and restore us.
Fellas - The time is now to choose our friends and acquaintances more wisely, listen to every word they say to you. If the words tempt you to do partake in an act of sin, call on Jesus' name and rely on his armor to protect and deliver you from this temptation.
Be full of the Spirit and never block it from guiding you towards the Light of Christ.
And lastly, if someone ever tells you are full of S.H.I.T. for believing and behaving the way we Christians do, respond to them with a bright smile while saying, "Yes, you are correct I am full of it!!! Spirit, Holiness, Integrity, and Trust in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!"
Let us pray -
Lord, fill your men today with the Holy Spirit and with joy. Help us to speak so effectively that many will believe. Help us not to be put off by the opposition, stirring or plots. Give us the courage to speak boldly for You. We pray that you will confirm the message of your grace with miraculous signs and wonders that emulate from our actions as we interact with our families, friends, and those we meet. Lord, how can we praise you enough for the way that you have fulfilled your promise in us? Praise you Lord that as your glory filled the temple of Solomon, so now your glory fills your men here on the prayer line.
Thank you that all your promises are fulfilled in us.
Come, Holy Spirit. Fulfil your promise among us again today. Thank you that every time we pray, ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ the Holy Spirit comes and we experience an increased sense of the presence of God among us. Help us to continue to prioritize our time and enjoy starting each and every morning with your awesome presence on the prayer line.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
SCRIPTURE
Galatians 5:22-23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Once on the “right” path, the proper question is not how much of the Spirit is in us, but rather how much of me is accepting of the Spirit. In scripture, Paul said that the Holy Spirit is sealed within us at the moment of belief (Ephesians 1:13-14), but in Ephesians 4:23 he said we’re to put off our old selves and be made new in the attitude of our minds. I would surmise this means we no longer run our life by ourselves but we trust and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to act in ways that are pleasing to the Father.
You see I’m a listener, this is how I learn. So when I listen to His voice and His guidance my true conscience, the Lord's voice, answers my questions, solve my concerns and squelches all quarrels. Reading Galatians 5:22-23 we hear the list of the behaviors the Spirit guides us towards. As I continue to learn to follow His Voice, the Holy Spirit empowers me to use the special gifts He grants to us all.
All too often we men get caught up in the wrong direction as a result of talking with unhealthy friends and associates; we then allow ourselves to be tempted to ignore the Holy Spirit’s guidance. When we do this it grieves the Father as it does any parent. When we listen to voices that tempt us to move in the direction of wrong or worse, evil, we seal off the Spirit from saving us.
The great fact is this - Ignoring the Holy Spirit means following Satan. And afterward, when we reflect on our behavior, we feel guilty.
You see my thinking has concluded that “Conviction” comes from the Holy Spirit, who wants us to be reconciled with our Father through His Son Jesus Christ. Guilt, guilt comes from satan who wants us to be estranged from our Father.
Normally a man experiencing conviction will be drawn by the Holy Spirit towards the Lord to receive His forgiveness through the sacrament of Reconciliation like Peter did after denying Him. A person feeling guilt will hide from Him in shame like Adam did in the Garden. So the difference between conviction and guilt can be seen in the direction we’re facing. If we’re looking towards the cross, it’s conviction. If we’re running away and hiding, it’s guilt. Period! End of discussion.
Peter confessed and was restored. Adam blamed God and bore the earthly consequences of his sin. As believers, we have the authority to reject satan’s attempts to make us feel guilty and confess our sin to our Lord and Savior. When we do this He will take away our guilt and restore us.
Fellas - The time is now to choose our friends and acquaintances more wisely, listen to every word they say to you. If the words tempt you to do partake in an act of sin, call on Jesus' name and rely on his armor to protect and deliver you from this temptation.
Be full of the Spirit and never block it from guiding you towards the Light of Christ.
And lastly, if someone ever tells you are full of S.H.I.T. for believing and behaving the way we Christians do, respond to them with a bright smile while saying, "Yes, you are correct I am full of it!!! Spirit, Holiness, Integrity, and Trust in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!"
Let us pray -
Lord, fill your men today with the Holy Spirit and with joy. Help us to speak so effectively that many will believe. Help us not to be put off by the opposition, stirring or plots. Give us the courage to speak boldly for You. We pray that you will confirm the message of your grace with miraculous signs and wonders that emulate from our actions as we interact with our families, friends, and those we meet. Lord, how can we praise you enough for the way that you have fulfilled your promise in us? Praise you Lord that as your glory filled the temple of Solomon, so now your glory fills your men here on the prayer line.
Thank you that all your promises are fulfilled in us.
Come, Holy Spirit. Fulfil your promise among us again today. Thank you that every time we pray, ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ the Holy Spirit comes and we experience an increased sense of the presence of God among us. Help us to continue to prioritize our time and enjoy starting each and every morning with your awesome presence on the prayer line.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
SCRIPTURE
Galatians 5:22-23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
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